+1 (629)348-3199Challenges and lessons learned from the implementation of Nutrition Specific program -an NGO perspective
Joint Event on International Conference and Exhibition on Probiotics, Nutrition and Functional Foods & 17th World Congress on Pediatrics and Nutrition
July 05-06, 2019 | Paris, France
Amegovu Kiri Andrew
Juba University, South Sudan
Keynote : J Pub Heath Catalog
Abstract:
Karamoja region in Uganda is a region highly affected by
draught, cattle rustling and food insecurity resulting to
high malnutrition rates over the past 40years.In response
to the persistent and high malnutrition(GAM of > 10%) UN
agencies/NGOS have been using nutrition specific approaches
in isolation of the preventive approach. There has been very
little or limited interaction between the nutrition specific
and Nutrition sensitive programs due to the difference in
objectives and targets. As a result most of the already cured
cases from the nutrition specific program end up relapsing.
For this reason the GAM levels have remained unchanged and
sometimes even increase.
These current mode of interventions have not been designed
to address the basic (Infrastructure, Education, Access to
market), Underlying (inadequate access to food, inadequate
care for mother and child, insufficient health service and
unhealthy environment) and Immediate (inadequate dietary
intake and disease) causes of malnutrition (UNICEF 1991).
Instead malnutrition has been tagged only to the program
that are treating/managing victims of acute malnutrition.
This is reflected in the resource allocation where most of the
resources have been allocated for treatment and management
of malnutrition through nutrition specific interventions
with very little resources allocated to nutrition sensitive
interventions which target prevention of malnutrition.
Nevertheless, malnutrition still continuous to affect the
population despite all these interventions. Results showed
making nutrition program sensitive is a more sustainable
way and where there is a gap in a program implementation
mandate should not override. Also data review of the Food
Security and Nutrition Assessment reports (FSNA) from
2009 to 2017, indicates that Global Acute Malnutrition rates
have persistently been at serious levels (>10%) despite all
the continued interventions. Similarly, stunting rates have
plateaued above emergency levels (>40%).
In order to address the continuously high malnutrition rates
there need shift nutrition program paradigm from the current
treatment based to a more nutrition sensitive approach.
Biography:
Amegovu Kiri Andrew is founder and the executive director of Andre Foods International (AFI) a an NGO in Uganda which implements nutrition main stream program for the UNWFP in karamoja and Rhino camp refugees settlement in Uganda. He holds both PhD and Post doctorate in Nutrition and Dietetics and he is an associate professor at Juba University in South Sudan. He has vast experience in treatment of moderate acute malnutrition in children under five years and pregnant and lactating women. He is a Researcher and has several publications in high impact journals in the fields of therapeutic foods, obesity, food safety and profiling of local foods for their nutrients. He has attended several international nutrition and food safety conferences both as speaker and chair.
E-mail: kiri_andrew@yahoo.com
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